FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 2ig 



An Albino Lamprey. 



One of the most interesting discoveries that we made in connection with our 

 lamprey investigations of 1899 was a genuine Albino Lamprey. This was an adult 

 male Lake Lamprey (Pctromyzou marinns unicolor). It was found on a spawning nest 

 with a dark rufous female, on the Pierson farm, near the white schoolhouse, about 

 three miles southwest of Ithaca, on the afternoon of May 26. The general color of 

 this unique specimen was pinkish cream, with decidedly pink eyes, and considerable 

 pink to red showing in the dorsal ridge, especially in the cedema at the base of the 

 dorsal fin. This plainly indicated the congested condition of the capillaries in the 

 dorsal ridge and especially in the oedema. 



When we found this unusually interesting specimen, we had with us no apparatus 

 for keeping it alive, and being impressed with the desirability of preserving it for 

 photographs, we left it until we could return with a suitable vessel for transporting it 

 alive. It is impossible to chronicle the regret with which we learned, upon returning 

 to this site, that the Albino Lamprey had disappeared forever. The most careful 

 search along the entire Inlet failed to reveal its presence. Some large footprints of a 

 bird and the marks of a wing stroke in the sand told the probable story of its removal 

 by a bird of prey — perhaps an owl. 



Tl)e v$t£e of Spawning- La^e Lampreys. 



The spawning Lake Lampreys vary greatly in size. While the largest may be 

 twenty inches in length, the shortest may be not half that long, and those of the largest 

 size may be three times as heavy as the smallest. It may be said that in general the 

 larger individuals run up stream before the smaller ones ; but we have collected some 

 very large lampreys as late as the middle of June, and they were the last to be found. 

 We have also collected some of but medium size early in the season. It appears that 

 there is less range or extreme variation in the sizes of the males than of the females; 

 although any certain size is no constant feature or indication of sex whatever. Upon 

 the same spawning nest may often.be found a very large male with a very small 

 female, or vice versa, or an approach at equality in size. The Brook Lampreys do 

 not exhibit the bright rufous colors or the great variations in size that are shown by 

 the Lake Lampreys. 



